Firefighters respond to hazardous chemical spill at home in Euxton

Fire crews from Chorley have responded to a hazardous chemical spillage at a home in Euxton, near Chorley.
Firefighters from Chorley were called to an incident involving a spillage of mercury from a broken barometer at a home in Runshaw Lane, Euxton on Monday, April 9.Firefighters from Chorley were called to an incident involving a spillage of mercury from a broken barometer at a home in Runshaw Lane, Euxton on Monday, April 9.
Firefighters from Chorley were called to an incident involving a spillage of mercury from a broken barometer at a home in Runshaw Lane, Euxton on Monday, April 9.

A barometer used to measure atmospheric pressure had been damaged at a home in Runshaw Lane and had leaked toxic mercury into the floorboards.

Due to children being present at the home, the homeowners reported the hazard to the emergency services.

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The accidental spill happened shortly before 9am on Monday (April 8), and led fire crews to declare a Hazmat (Hazardous material) incident at the address.

Firefighters from Chorley were called to an incident involving a spillage of mercury from a broken barometer at a home in Runshaw Lane, Euxton on Monday, April 9.Firefighters from Chorley were called to an incident involving a spillage of mercury from a broken barometer at a home in Runshaw Lane, Euxton on Monday, April 9.
Firefighters from Chorley were called to an incident involving a spillage of mercury from a broken barometer at a home in Runshaw Lane, Euxton on Monday, April 9.

Mercury is toxic and can be fatal if inhaled. If exposed to the chemical, a person can suffer harm to their lungs, kidneys and central nervous system.

Firefighters donned protective clothing and masks to carry out the clean-up operation, which took more than three hours to complete.

No-one was injured in the incident

A spokesman for LFRS said: "Firefighters from Chorley were called to an incident involving a spillage of mercury from a broken barometer at a premises on Runshaw Lane, Euxton.

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"Firefighters used a vacuum, brushes, one canine light and a syringe to clean the incident.

"Firefighters were in attendance approximately three hours and fifteen minutes whilst decontamination was taking place."

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